Orthodontic Treatment for Children

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends evaluating children at age 7 to advise if orthodontic treatment is required and if it is the best time to begin treatment.

By this age, most children have a good mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, making it easier to correct tooth and jaw problems sooner and without extractions or jaw surgery.

Early orthodontic treatment can:

• Correct and guide the growth of your child's jaw to help the permanent teeth come in straight. Jaw discrepancies if left untreated until growth has stopped/adulthood, may require corrective jaw surgery. Early intervention may be able to prevent the need for surgical intervention.
• Regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches and smile.
• Create more space for crowded teeth.
• Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions.

For parents, we know it's not always easy to determine if your child needs to be seen early.

Here are a few things parents can look for that may indicate a need for orthodontic treatment:

• Early/late loss of baby teeth
• If your child has a hard time chewing or biting food
• Mouth breathing
• Finger or thumb sucking
• Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
• Jaws that pop or make sounds
• Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all
• Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate (underbite or overbite)

If your child is showing any number of these signs, please contact our practice to schedule an orthodontic evaluation and consultation. Remember, early treatment now will give your child a healthy, beautiful smile for the future.

Orthodontic Treatment for Teens

Braces today come in a variety of styles and materials, making life with braces much easier, more comfortable, and even more stylish than in the past. Some are even invisible - ask us about Invisalign®, Invisalign Teen™, Incognito™, or clear braces (In-Ovation® C by GAC).

First thing's first - the one thing that teens just like you always want to know is "how long will I need to wear braces?"

The amount of time it takes to treat your smile with braces depends on three key factors:

• Early treatment - Early treatment allows monitorization of growth of the jaw and recommendations for further orthodontic treatment if it becomes necessary. Not everybody receives early orthodontic treatment, and in some cases, it may be recommended that a patient wait until they are older to receive treatment.
• What needs correction - The amount of treatment needed in order to correct a problem will determine how long the process takes. Different patients react to treatments differently; so, while it may take one patient only 12 months to complete their treatment, it may take another patient 24 months. Treatment times can vary depending on how quickly your body responds and how much work is needed to give you the show-stopping smile you expect.
• YOU! - Your willingness to use the appliances Dr. Vardy gives you plays a major role in the length of time it takes to complete your treatment. Always remember to take care of your braces and appliances; this truly will help make your treatment shorter!

Your Braces, Your Way!

At Vardy Orthodontics, we use the most innovative, state-of-the-art braces available - In-Ovation®. They are available in either clear or metal and are small and smooth. Very cool, yet discreet! Now is a great time to be wearing braces; so don't be shy, go wild and personalize your braces to fit your personality and lifestyle.

I'm so hungry, but what can I eat?

Eating with braces is another hot topic for many teens your age! You've probably heard from your parents, friends, and the Vardy Orthodontics Team, the long list of foods and beverages that you should avoid consuming while wearing braces.

Don't let this worry you: before long you will be able to eat all of the foods you enjoy, but until then, you may need to make a few changes to your diet.

Questions?

Braces are a big part of life for many teens your age. Wearing braces makes it easy to look good and feel good while giving you the perfect smile! Please contact us with any questions you may have or to schedule your next appointment.